The Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University (ATU), Engr. Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, has called for the strategic adoption of Automation, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform quality assurance across Ghana’s Technical Universities and equip graduates with the competencies required for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Prof. Acakpovi delivered the keynote address at the 3rd Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) Summer School held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi from the 9th to the 10th of July, 2026.
The event brought together key stakeholders in Ghana’s higher education sector, including Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of GTEC; Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST; Dr. Emmanuel Newman, Director of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education; Hon. Dr. Kwabena Donkor, former Minister for Power; Mr. Joseph Mensah Oti-Asirifi, Executive Secretary of the Vice-Chancellors of Technical Universities–Ghana (VCTU-G); as well as Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Principals, academics, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders.
Addressing participants on the theme, “Leveraging Automation, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Quality Enhancement in Technical Education: A Roadmap for Public Technical Universities in Ghana,” Prof. Acakpovi presented a compelling roadmap for transforming quality assurance in Technical Universities through technology-driven innovation.
He underscored the urgent need for higher education institutions to rethink conventional quality assurance systems in response to rising student enrolment, rapid technological advancement and changing labour market demands. He observed that while Ghana has made remarkable progress in expanding access to tertiary education, institutions must now ensure that increased enrolment does not compromise educational quality.
“If higher education has changed, then quality assurance must also change,” he stated, adding that “quality must never become the price we pay for expansion.”
Representing the collective aspirations of Ghana’s Technical Universities, Prof. Acakpovi stressed that quality assurance should no longer be viewed as a periodic compliance exercise but as a continuous, intelligent and evidence-based system embedded in teaching, learning, research, governance and institutional performance.
A major highlight of his presentation was the unveiling of the SMART-QA Framework, an innovative five-pillar model for technology-driven quality assurance comprising Smart Teaching, Modern Assessment, AI-driven Decision Making, Robotics and Practical Learning, and Technology-enabled Governance.
Explaining the framework, he emphasised that Artificial Intelligence should complement, not replace the work of educators.
“Technology should never replace educators. Technology should empower educators,” he remarked, explaining that AI has the potential to reduce administrative workloads, strengthen assessment integrity, improve learning analytics, support evidence-based decision-making, and enable lecturers to devote more time to teaching, mentoring, research and innovation.
The Vice-Chancellor further encouraged Technical Universities to accelerate investments in digital learning platforms, intelligent laboratories, competency-based education, robotics, automation and data-driven governance systems to enhance institutional efficiency and graduate employability.
Turning attention to Africa’s future, Prof. Acakpovi described the continent’s rapidly growing youth population as its greatest competitive advantage and challenged universities to produce graduates who will drive industrialization and innovation. He emphasised that Technical Universities occupy a unique position within the national development agenda because of their close links with industry and applied research.
“Our mission extends far beyond awarding degrees. We must produce innovators rather than imitators; problem-solvers rather than job seekers; entrepreneurs rather than employment applicants; creators of technology rather than consumers of technology,” he declared.
Drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, Germany, Finland and China, Prof. Acakpovi urged Ghanaian institutions to adapt global best practices to local realities rather than replicate foreign models wholesale. He maintained that technology should be deployed as a locally relevant solution that responds to Ghana’s development priorities while preserving academic integrity and ethical standards.
He concluded by calling on higher education leaders to embrace technological innovation without losing sight of the human values that underpin quality education.
“Automation, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are not the destination. They are the vehicles. Quality remains the destination. Technology is the means. Human development is the purpose, and national transformation is the ultimate goal,” he affirmed.
The keynote address reinforced the collective vision of the VCTU-G to position Ghana’s Technical Universities as centres of excellence in technology, innovation and industry-responsive education.
The 3rd GTEC Summer School provided an important platform for dialogue among higher education leaders on leveraging technology to safeguard educational quality.